Discussion: GAO: Pentagon Broke The Law In Bergdahl Swap

system1 · August 22, 2014, 3:04pm

Discussion for article #226750

deckbose · August 22, 2014, 3:15pm

A “bitterly divided House Armed Services Committee” drew up a “bipartisan resolution”?

Huh?

Amanda_Kerri · August 22, 2014, 3:17pm

Okay, so who wants to be the guy to file charges for this one?

Anyone?

Bueller?

ottnott · August 22, 2014, 3:46pm

Hey troops, GOP says Congress sometimes has to give the okay before we can get you out of enemy hands and back home.

They will stick a yellow ribbon magnet on a filing cabinet while you wait, so rest assured that you will have their full support.

cwazycajun · August 22, 2014, 3:53pm

the republicons will say hostages why worry about him … can we make money on it … can we blame obama because of it…and are we tru with the BS benghazi investigation yet???

libboomer · August 22, 2014, 4:33pm

I’d like to see a press conference where Obama publicly calls out a do-nothing Congress as reason enough to justify this or any other executive action, drop the mic and exit camera right. Then book a full Ginsburg on the following Sunday to talk straight about race, inequality, the difference between the left and right wings and the two Americas that exist today.

(Or maybe I’ll put the bong down now.)

abbymac · August 22, 2014, 4:40pm

As I understand the law involved here, it merely requires the President to “notify” Congress in advance of any action on Gitmo prisoners. It doesn’t give Congress any ability to deny, prevent or consent to a transfer. So what it the friggin’ big deal here? Is this a case of Congress’ feelings being hurt (boo hoo), or - more likely - just another opportunity to criticize the President and stir up the phony impeachment talk?

darrtown · August 22, 2014, 4:44pm

Well gee, should we send Bergdahl back to the Taliban and ask their folks to come back to Gitmo?

gr · August 22, 2014, 4:44pm

“Pentagon Broke The Law In Bergdahl Swap”

So send the kid back.

We’ll never know, but I’d bet we break the law every day with spec ops kidnappings, assassinations and who knows what.

darrtown · August 22, 2014, 4:45pm

That would be a safe bet

sherlock1 · August 22, 2014, 4:49pm

GOP: “WE LEAVE THEM BEHIND!” (*Anytime we think we can make political gains.)

America to the GOP: FU*K YOU!

chelsea530 · August 22, 2014, 5:08pm

I would think that after the recent and tragic beheading of the American journalist, repubs would keep their effing mouths shut.

Sadly, no. Hope any action comes back to bite them.

tani · August 22, 2014, 5:09pm

So now we see the agenda for hill-billy GOP coming off over extended paid vacation (from doing nothing). Also a preview of their agenda for the next 2 years. ‘STOP THE BS’ GOTV 2014…

snarkus_aurelius · August 22, 2014, 5:10pm

This will give the Teabaggers all they need to impeach without looking 100% derpy.

Only 98% derpy. Please proceed, Schmucks!

commanderogg · August 22, 2014, 5:41pm

Ahem, know C530, they will not. The Election of President Obama set off a sickness within the rightwing, a plague more deadly then Ebola: ODS.

Anything, ANYTHING that can be used to arrack and destroy the President is fair game, even if it means letting our soldiers and citizens die.

joefromlowell · August 22, 2014, 5:42pm

It did violate the law.

But the Pentagon/administration has a hell of a necessity defense.

It violates the law to cross the double yellow line. Does that mean I can’t swerve if a deer runs out into the road?

captaincommonsense · August 22, 2014, 5:58pm

If you’re Driving While Being President While Black, then no, you cannot swerve.

(unless you notify Clowngress first, kiss their ring for permission, and agree to sign their latest ACA Repeal plus cut old folks power off and put some little kids in orphanages. THEN, they may agree to it – MAY.)

tomanjeri · August 22, 2014, 6:16pm

Congress was alerted earlier this year about this swap, are they just now quibbling over the fact they weren’t consulted again 31 days before the swap actually happened?

They had 6 months to prevent that swap from happening and I fail to see how the GAO doesn’t consider the initial discussions from February with Congress as “30 day notification”.

frankly_my_dear · August 22, 2014, 6:18pm

"It's not hard to imagine that the president didn't notify us until after the fact because he knew the proposed transfer would have been met with opposition," Collins said.

It’s not hard to imagine at all, considering that everything the president has done or tried to do has been met with opposition from Congress. I think this qualifies for a “No Shit, Sherlock” award. It’s clear that if we wanted our boy back, letting Congress in on it would have been the very last thing to do. Otherwise, the entire process would have come to a grinding halt.

midnight_rambler · August 22, 2014, 6:23pm

The thing that really upsets me about this election is that Collins is easily going to win re-election in Maine, a pretty blue state, with a lot of votes from independents and even Democrats who vote for her reflexively as the incumbent, when they would vote for almost any Democrat running in an open race. Maddening.